>> the debt ceiling represents the equivalent of a massive fiscal heart attack. >> after the fiscal cliff... >> do you solemnly swear... >> extremely ideological people who have never governed are now in the congress. >> and when we first got here, we were patted on the back and said, "great, the cavalry has arrived." >> another crisis to come. >> deal-making is not part of the program of conviction politics. >> enough is enough. you will not spend another dime, you will not put us in hock. >> this is now one week from d-day. there's no deal. >> the fiscal cliff is a fiscal suicide vest. the whole place is going to blow up. >> frontline investigates the ongoing battle. >> throw the country into default. >> political armageddon >>what's the word, "madness?" >>tonight on frontline "cliffhanger" frontline is made possible by contributions to your pbs station from viewers like you. and by the corporation for public broadcasting. major support for frontline is provided by the john d. and catherine t. macarthur foundation, committed to building a more just, verdant and peaceful world. more info